THIS STORY HAS BEEN FORMATTED FOR EASY PRINTING
Head of the Charles Notebook

Sivigny floats to top

Cohen toppled by missed buoy

By John Powers
Globe Staff / October 18, 2009

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Michael Sivigny thought he had won the men’s championship singles yesterday afternoon at the Head of the Charles Regatta. Then he was told he was second to defending champion Nathan Cohen of New Zealand.

“Only three or four minutes later, I was told that [Cohen] had a buoy violation,’’ said the Londonderry, N.H., resident, who outrowed Sweden’s Lassi Karonen by more than four seconds in 18:01.095, “and I ended up taking it.’’

Though Cohen was assessed a 10-second penalty at the Riverside Boat Club, half a mile into the three-mile upstream race, he didn’t remember missing a buoy.

“Not that I’m aware of,’’ said Cohen, who was bidding to become the first champion to repeat since Australia’s Duncan Free in 2002 but ended up third. “Obviously, I’m very disappointed, but it’s all part of it.’’

For Sivigny, the first American winner since Don Smith in 1999, it was a sweet victory after his runnerup showing last year. His next goal is to make the US team for the 2010 world championships after missing this year’s by six tenths of a second in the double with partner Steve Whelpley .

In the women’s race, South African native Ursula Grobler James dethroned Gevvie Stone of the Cambridge Boat Club, coming out of the 19th bow position to win by three seconds in 19:34.676.

“It’s definitely good to be an unknown because you don’t have the pressure,’’ said Grobler James, who lives in Lake Stevens, Wash., is married to an American, and hopes to gain citizenship next year.

Doubly good
In the championship doubles, brothers Peter and Thomas Graves defended the title that Peter won with Andrew Liverman last year, beating the composite entry of Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic and Tim Maeyens of Belgium by nearly eight seconds in 16:10.931. “You get out and try to stay out,’’ said Peter, who with Thomas was the US entry at the world regatta and had the No. 1 starting position here. “You want to start disappearing on people.’’ Megan Kalmoe and Ellen Tomek, a last-minute substitution for US teammates Megan Smith and Meghan Musnicki, who’ll be in today’s eight, won the women’s double by 43 seconds over Canada’s Peggy Devos and Romina Stefancic in 18:01.766.

Halfway there
All week, rowers and organizers have been watching the weather forecasts, with visions of one of those gales that forced the cancellation of racing in 1996 and a shortened course in 2004. Whatever may happen today, says the regatta’s executive director, Fred Schoch, yesterday’s weather counts a blessing. “So far, it’s been much less severe than we anticipated,’’ said Schoch, “and I’m crossing my fingers that Sunday will be the same.’’ Schoch said he is ready with the usual contingencies, the first being a shortened course from 3 to 2 1/2 miles. Winds blowing from the east create the worst conditions for rowers, and if it blows above 20 miles an hour, races will be canceled out of safety concerns. “We probably wouldn’t make a call until around 5:30 a.m.,’’ said Schoch.

Globe correspondent Tony Chamberlain contributed to this report.

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.